The Boston Celtics have been spending like wild over the last few years, acquiring some massive contracts in the hopes of winning the NBA Finals. So far, it seems that all that spending has paid off because the team is better than it has been in years. However, that will quite literally cost them in the summer.
The Celtics are expected to spend $197,012,551 in the 2024-25 season. That is partly because of the enormous contract extension that they gave to Jaylen Brown last summer. They are also paying a lot for other players, notably Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porgingis.
$197 is far over the salary cap, which means they will be paying quite a bit in taxes. The only chance the team has of paying less would be if newcomer Jrue Holiday declined his $39,403,894 player option for the 2024-25 season. But he would have to not only decline that option but also leave the team and both of those seem like unlikely options.
That means that the Celtics are probably going to be stuck paying nearly $200 million next season. Of course, that could be considered money well spent if the Celtics reach their ultimate goal of going to the Finals again this season.
Right now, that doesn't seem very far-fetched at all. The team is currently 44-12 and the top team not only in the Eastern Conference but the entire NBA. If the team goes all the way this year, they will happily pay as much as they have to in order to keep the team together. But if they end up falling short again, there is a chance that they could ship away some contracts in order to rebuild the roster.
BREAKING: Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax contract extension with the franchise, per sources. This is the richest deal in NBA history, negotiated by agent Jason Glushon. Fully guaranteed, with a trade kicker. No player option.
